Medical device with procedure improvement features

Abstract

This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device under conditions in which an access path and the subject anatomy are not aligned.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of PCT Application Number PCT / US2005 / 040378, filed Nov. 7, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 60 / 625,256, filed Nov. 5, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 650,368, filed Feb. 4, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is well understood that “minimally invasive” as opposed to open surgical approaches often offer benefits in terms of decreased patient trauma, increased patient acceptance, improved recuperation time, and lower associated costs—both monetarily and in terms of other metrics. Accordingly, instances of minimally invasive procedures are increasingly common. [0003] However, in any case where a medical practitioner advances a device to a remote operative site (e.g., open surgical procedure with a remote operative site, percutaneous access, and / or access via an open body ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention includes devices configured to treat the airways or other anatomical structures (including those noted herein) with uniform or predictable contact (or near contact) between an active element and tissue. Typically, the invention allows this result with little or no effort by a physician. Accordingly, aspects of the invention offer increased effectiveness and efficiency in carrying out a medical procedure. The increases in effectiveness and efficiency may be especially apparent in using devices having relatively longer active end members.

Problems solved by technology

However, in any case where a medical practitioner advances a device to a remote operative site (e.g., open surgical procedure with a remote operative site, percutaneous access, and / or access via an open body conduit) alignment or orientation difficulties with the subject device may arise.

Tortuous anatomy may also create challenges when the particular treatment device requires mechanical actuation of the treatment portion.

In particular, attempting to actuate a member may be difficult if the actuation force applied at the operator's hand-piece must translate to the distal end of the device.

Yet, if the access path is misaligned from the treatment site, then difficulties may arise in attempting to and achieve uniform contact (or near contact) at the desired treatment site.

However, the tortuous nature of the airways may cause significant bending and / or flexure of the distal end of the device.

The flexure may impose non-uniform forces on the flexible electrode as a result of the airway wall.

These non-uniform forces may result in distortion of one or more of the flexible electrodes.

Aside from the possibility of damaging the device, distortion of the device may impact the treatment.

For many treatment devices, the distortion of the energy transfer elements might cause variability in the treatment effect.

This directly affects the amount of heat in the tissue.

In any number of cases, variability of the energy transfer / tissue interface causes variability in treatment results.

The consequential risks range from an ineffective treatment to the possibility of patient injury.

Therefore, distortion of the transfer element or elements increases the procedure time when the practitioner spends an inordinate amount of time adjusting a device to compensate for or avoid such distortion.

Such action becomes increasingly problematic in those cases where proper patient management limits the time available for the procedure.

For example, if a patient requires an increasing amount of medication (e.g., sedatives or anesthesia) to remain under continued control for performance of the procedure, then a medical practitioner may limit the procedure time rather than risk overmedicating the patient.

Subsequently, increasing the number of sessions poses additional consequences on the part of the patient in cost, the residual effects of any medication, etc.

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